There is no cure for myasthenia gravis and the condition can only be managed by providing optimum treatment. The disease is divided into an active stage and remission stage and the aim of the treatment is to keep the disease in remission stage.
Can Myasthenia Gravis Go Away On Its Own?
There is no cure of myasthenia gravis, however, it can be effectively managed by various medications and surgery is also required in some patients with increased severity. The condition is divided into two stages, the active stage and the remission stage. In the active stage, the patient experiences the symptoms of the disease such as eyelid drooping, double vision, difficulty eating and swallowing, a problem in closing the jaw, blurred speech and respiratory distress. The medications are administered in the patients to effectively manage the symptoms of the disease. Through medications and other therapies, the active stage of the disease is transformed to the remission stage. In this stage, the disease goes in the dormant stage and the patient does not feel any symptoms. The primary task for medical professionals is to keep the condition in the remission stage with the help of medicines. (1)
In most of the cases, the disease goes into the remission stage from the active stage as the patients respond positively to the treatment. However, in some cases, the disease remains in the active stage and the continuous treatment is required to manage the symptoms. In rare cases, the condition of the patient improves, and the disease goes in remission stage without any treatment. This improvement in the condition is sudden and is complemented by the healthy diet and optimum rest. (2)
Myasthenia gravis is the condition in which the body is under attack by its own immune system. This results in the reduced muscular contraction causing weakening of the muscles. The condition is related to the thymus gland and the thymus gland of the patient is enlarged or the patient may suffer from thymoma. The onset of the condition is sudden, and the muscles most commonly affected are of eyes and face. The people suffering from myasthenia gravis also have difficulty in swallowing.
The condition is most commonly found in adult males and females and is rarely found in children. Women with age lower than 40 and men with age higher than 60 are commonly affected by myasthenia gravis. Prognosis is favorable in the patient undergoing treatment and the quality of life improves.
The classification of myasthenia gravis is done on the basis of the severity of the disease. The disease is classified from class I to V through the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Clinical Classification scale.
Diagnosis of the disease is done through various diagnostic techniques such as blood tests, physical evaluation, imaging techniques, electrodiagnosis, Edrophonium test, and pulmonary function test. Pulmonary function test is used to evaluate the health of respiratory muscles as it may lead to respiratory distress which may prove fatal.
Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms
Myasthenia gravis normally affects the muscles of eyes, face, throat and respiratory system. Following are the various symptoms of myasthenia gravis:
Eyes– The symptoms related to the eyes include eyelid drooping, double vision and the condition worsens while putting stress on eyes. If the symptoms are only associated with the eyes, the condition is known as ocular myasthenia gravis. (3)
Speaking– The patient suffering from Myasthenia gravis have difficulty speaking and slurred speech. There is no control over the pitch and tone of the voice.
Eating– As the muscles of the throat become weak, the patient experiences difficulty swallowing.
Respiratory Symptoms– In the advanced stage of the disease, the patient experiences breathing problems due to the weakening of the respiratory muscles.(4)
Conclusion
Rarely, the condition of the patient improves without treatment. In most of the conditions, treatment is required either to manage the symptoms of the active stage or maintaining the remission stage of the disease.
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